HABITS OF THE TITMOUSE. 157 



disposition, though the peculiar note sometimes ut- 

 tered by the male, which sounds like the sharpening 

 of a saw, does not render its presence in a room 

 particularly pleasant. When brought up from the 

 nest this species can be rendered extremely tame 

 and familiar ; one in particular that I kept for some 

 time, would come when called by his name e Tom ' 

 and perch on my finger or shoulder. He would 

 also hop about the table and catch flies, which made 

 him a very useful pet during hot weather. With 

 reference to the bearded titmouse, now generally 

 termed the bearded reedling (Calamophilus biar- 

 micus), it was separated from the true Pari, on 

 account of the different form of the bill, which is 

 somewhat longer and more curved at the point, 

 while the feet are of a more lengthened and slen- 

 der form, possessing less grasping power than the 

 more exclusively arboreal species. The stomach 

 also assumes a more muscular formation, for the 

 digestion of the small mollusca on which it feeds in 

 a great measure. The reed beds on the banks of 

 the Thames are, I believe, favourite localities for 

 this beautiful little bird, which assembles in small 

 flocks, flitting with a short low flight just above the 

 reeds, on the tops of which it alights, hanging with 

 the head or back downwards, and running down 

 the stalks with great agility in search of food. It 

 was occasionally, I understand, also found about 



